Hard to Hold (Hard to Play, #1) by Katie Rose

May 24, 2016 XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I liked that Logan has a level head. Yes, he freaked out a little when he was left with a kid that he supposedly fathered with a one night stand, but even in that state, he did the right thing. I liked how the romance developed between him and Isabella, his new nanny. The baby girl put Logan in a situation where he had to settle down and having Isabella around, with their attraction, felt natural. With that though, comes the chance that he fell for her out of convenience. She's there. She's cari ...more

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Sep 09, 2016 Dali rated it liked it

Shelves: forbidden-romance, standalone, series, sports, arc-read, contemporary-romance, published-2016

Light, sweet and endearing

Logan Hart has lived and breathed soccer for as long as he can remember loving everything that comes with it including the attention from the ladies that constantly surround him. What he never would have expected and certainly didn’t want was little bundle of joy wrapped up in pink diapers to be left on his lap by one of his dalliances. DNA match or not, Logan is aware of the fact that if he didn’t step up the ginger haired cutie would most likely end up in fost ...more

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Sep 11, 2016 1-Click Addict Support Group rated it really liked it

Men with babies… Is there anything sexier, more swoonworthy than a man making goofy faces at a baby? Providing for her? Falling in love with her?

I think not.

Especially after watching Logan Hart fall for not just one girl—the baby daughter his ex-hook up left him with unexpectedly—but two. It was a study in adorable and addicting romance, with a ton of smiles and heart-melting moments just waiting to be had. While it took maybe a little longer for a connection to form with these characters than ...more

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Sep 12, 2016 Irene rated it really liked it

4 stars

Hard to Hold was a sweet and heartwarming read.

From the first meeting between Logan and Isabella I knew I was going to enjoy watching these two connect and fall in love.
They made me laugh, at times they frustrated me and at other times they made me swoon.
These two were perfect for each other, then add Logan's cute baby girl and I was in a very happy place.
Logan connecting with his little girl Cinnamon, melted my heart. With the help/guidance from Isabella he turned from a clueless man ...more

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Jun 27, 2016 Carmen Rae rated it really liked it

Shelves: perfect-alpha, sweet, not-my-baby

I wrote out a review for this book but apparently my laptop looked like a puppy toy and now it is a really pretty paperweight :(

So I will just say that I loved this book. It was sweet and hot and you really should pre order it now while I go off and stalk Katie Rose.

Check out my reviews here

...more

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Aug 20, 2016 The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-s

Link to full review below! Sweet and enjoyable overall but also predictable and a little slow.See full review on The Book Disciple ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Mizz Latte rated it liked it

Shelves: annoying-heroine, selfish-heroine, easy-read, sweet, no-depth, no-angst, just-ok, hero-redeemed

https://romanticcynicblog.wordpress.c...

Beware of Spoilers!

Star Ratings:
Heroine (Isabella): age unknown
Hero (Logan): 27yrs old
Plot: 3/5
Grovel: h should have grovelled more
Cheating: none
HEA: yes but no further babies
Triggers: H was sexually assaulted once as a child/teen

Average score: 3/5

Best Line: “Fuck that spoonful of sugar shit.”

Worst Line: “I deserted him.”

Personal Review:
This was an ok romance between a single father and a nanny. The H grew on me but the h lost me when she abandoned them b ...more

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Jan 21, 2017 Steffi rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, read-2017, kindle-books-2017, neu-2016, read-in-one-day, read-in-english, jahreszeitenchallenge-winter, what-s-app-br-mit-nadine, challenge-sub-abbau-2017

2.5

To be honest I didn't really had a clue what it was about when I started this book today. So I was pretty surprised when I found a MSL star with an illegitimate baby being dropped on him and hiring a nanny.

I really enjoyed the setting as I haven't read much similar. Unfortunately the story couldn't live up to my expectations.
Everything felt very rushed, the story as well as the relationship between the characters and the development of the characters. I hadly felt any chemistry between Logan ...more

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Sep 09, 2016 Tori rated it liked it

Shelves: romance-contemporary, e-book, net-galley, arc, review-for-smexybooks, series, sports, read-in-2016

Originally posted at Smexybooks-http://smexybooks.com/2016/09/review-...

New Jersey Hurricanes striker Logan Hart is an international soccer star who plays hard on and off the field. Gorgeous, rich, and single, he has the perfect life.That is until a former one night stand hands him a baby, claiming it’s his, and disappears. Logan doesn’t know the child is really his or not and has no idea how to care for her. His sister puts a call into a nanny service. Logan’s all for handing off this new respo Originally posted at Smexybooks-http://smexybooks.com/2016/09/review-...

New Jersey Hurricanes striker Logan Hart is an international soccer star who plays hard on and off the field. Gorgeous, rich, and single, he has the perfect life.That is until a former one night stand hands him a baby, claiming it’s his, and disappears. Logan doesn’t know the child is really his or not and has no idea how to care for her. His sister puts a call into a nanny service. Logan’s all for handing off this new responsibility to more capable hands so he can get back to his single ways but when the sexy, blond, take no prisoners nanny shows up and informs him she is the nanny, not the parent, and his participation is non-negotiable, Logan finds himself looking for more than just a new notch on his bedpost…he wants to win her heart.

Isabella Bennett takes pride in her career as a professional nanny. Using her skills, she not only cares for the children of the rich and famous but also helps to teach the parents how to become a family. Logan and his child desperately need Isabella but their mutual attraction could create some problems. Isabella is there to whip Logan into shape, not fall into his bed. As the chemistry between them only continues to bloom, Isabella finds herself hoping that this is the real thing. But a secret Isabella is keeping may be the one thing that stops her from finally getting her happily ever after.

Hard to Hold is the first in a new sports based romance contemporary series by Katie Rose.An appealing premise and cover piqued my interest right away. I enjoy sport based romances and I’m always looking for more secret/surprise baby tropes that don’t follow the norm. Rose sets the stage right off the bat with a bold scene and narrative. Our hero, Logan Hart, is home from Europe and having a drink with a teammate. A young woman interrupts Logan’s night out, handing him a baby and informing him he is the baby’s father and she’s done. Logan is shocked and tries to chase after her but she drives off before he can stop her. Logan heads home, calls his sister, and proceeds to freak out. And rightly so. His sister helps him out by putting him in touch with a professional nanny service send over a nanny who instantly sets to right the chaos that has descended, winning his admiration, trust, and eventually his heart.

This lightweight predictable story hits all the basic notes for a romance but doesn’t develop beyond a singular level. This surprised me because I read and reviewed The Heat is On, #4 in her Bad Boys of Summer series, and enjoyed it. I found the overall romance and storyline much better developed and balanced in comparison to this one.

An antagonistic employee/employer relationship develops and trips along with a wee bit of angst, humor, and some push and pull in the romance. Logan sees a beautiful woman he’d like to get to know better but has no ambition towards making it something more permanent while Isabella sees a gorgeous abet arrogant man who needs to to be taken down a notch. They dance around each other as Logan learns how to be a parent while dealing with the team, the gossip, and locating the baby’s mom.

The chemistry is plausible and helped along by some steamy scenes but the connection is weak. Isabella seems determined to keep Logan firmly in “player” category though there is no evidence of this besides second hand gossip. I was also not happy with her presumptions about his having one night stands and obviously not using a condom. Logan struggles with crossing the line between them, knowing he needs her more for his child then his bed. When they decide to go forward, he stops them at a critical point and she ends up taking it personally. They don’t really seem to get to know one another on a personal level, and I never saw the moment it went from attraction to affection for either of them.

The best part of the book for me was watching Logan grow into parenthood. He doesn’t instantly take to the baby and there was a sense of realism there. The confusion and fear were evident and Logan learns to deal with it while growing to love his child. There was a small storyline concerning Logan that didn’t seem to offer much in ways advancement in the book or his character. Logan suffers under the care of a host family while in Europe as a teenager and resents his parents didn’t believe his claims. Interesting but there is no resolution and it disappears as quietly as it enters. A minor conflict concerning Isabella’s secret is the catalyst that pushes Isabella to trust Logan and we are left with the HEA we never doubted was coming.

Hard to Hold is sure to appeal to fans who enjoy predictably sweet and lightweight romance contemporaries with a hint of spice that doesn’t push any real boundaries or demand much emotionally.

Grade: C ...more

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May 17, 2016 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, own, arc, kindle, contemporary, romance, sports, loveswept, september-2016

Sexy sports hero in need of rescue gets an unexpected gem from a modern day Mary Poppins (aka. Nanny with attitude) in this delightfully sweet romance.

Logan Hart, professional athlete, has life by the horns until an ex-fling drops off a baby at his door step and walks away. Unsure what to do he calls a nanny service to take control of this unexpected addition to his perfect life. Little did he know that this nanny specializing in teaching the rich and famous to become loving parents…even if she ...more

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Jul 22, 2016 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: sunday-reads

Recommended weekend read

Loved Logan and Bella. An engaging story told in third person yet with the conversation it felt like dual pov's

When Logan a star football player finds himself left with a baby who is literally dumped on him from the mother who was a one night stand, this previous playboy now single parent has to call in resources, so in comes the nanny from an agency otherwise known as Isabella (Bella)

A steady paced story,predictable but enjoyable, I wanted to know how it was all going ...more

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Jun 16, 2016 Mindy Lou's Book Review rated it liked it

Shelves: sports, 2016

3.5 Stars!

Single fatherhood is thrust upon professional soccer star Logan Hart with a 3 month old baby. The mother claims the child is his and she can no longer take care of her, leaving the baby with him and walking away. Isabella is a certifies nanny called in to help Logan while he sorts the situation out. He's sure there's a mistake and the baby isn't his, yet he refuses to pawn her off on social services.

While this was a good story line and likeable characters, I struggled a bit connecting ...more

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Nov 19, 2016 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016-releases, adult, review-books, sport, arc, contemporary, romance, september-release, read-in-2016, loveswept

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Hard to Hold is a sweet contemporary romance in the spin-off to The Boys of Summer series, with solid characters and a good plot.

Review - (un)Conventional Bookviews

Contemporary romances that include sports heroes are among my favorites, and Hard to Hold is well done, with complex characters that I wanted to spend even more time with! The romance was swoony, and Logan was toe-curling! I can't imagine what Logan went through - out with some friends for a few beers, This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Hard to Hold is a sweet contemporary romance in the spin-off to The Boys of Summer series, with solid characters and a good plot.

Review - (un)Conventional Bookviews

Contemporary romances that include sports heroes are among my favorites, and Hard to Hold is well done, with complex characters that I wanted to spend even more time with! The romance was swoony, and Logan was toe-curling! I can't imagine what Logan went through - out with some friends for a few beers, a woman he'd spent one night with a year before dumped a three-month old baby in his lap and told him he was the father and it was his turn to take care of Cinnamon... At least, women have 9 months to get used to becoming a parent, no such luck for Logan.

Because Logan wasn't home all that much - being a professional soccer-player kept him on the road more often than not - he knew he needed help in a big way to take care of the baby until he could find her mother again and persuade her to take the baby back... In came Isabella, nanny extraordinaire, and totally immune to hunky athletes. At least that's what she kept telling herself. Hard to Hold dealt with some gender problems turned upside-down, and I enjoyed seeing Logan getting used to caring for Cinnamon, having to learn to get to know her, and how to deal with crying, diapers and the middle-of-the night feedings, even if Isabella did take care of most of that when she was working.

Between becoming a father at no notice and still working hard to be a good soccer-player Logan definitely had his work cut out for him in Hard to Hold. He still had time to fall really hard for Isabella, though, and while she was a bit reluctant, she also really wanted true love, a family and everything that comes with that. As Hard to Hold is a spin-off, there were some side characters I had already met, and I was very happy to spend a little time with them as well. Rose has managed to create another sports team I can't wait to get to know better, and I look forward to the next instalment.

Written in third person point of view, past tense, we get parts both from Logan's and Isabella's perspective. There are also dialogues throughout, which makes getting to know the characters very easy.

Fave Quotes - (un)Conventional Bookviews

Fave Quotes - (un)Conventional Bookviews

To go from that to becoming a single parent of a little girl was a huge leap. She wondered if he would be able to make it.

All she was certain of were her own feelings for Logan, which were growing by the day. She knew she should pull back, protect her heart, but she couldn't stop anything at this point.

...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Chantal ❤️ marked it as cant-read-triggers

NOT FOR ME
This book has a sexual assault in the past that I can't deal with.
Giving it a skip. ...more

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Sep 16, 2016 Sandy S rated it really liked it

3.75 stars--

About the book: Release Date September 13, 2016

New Jersey Hurricanes striker Logan Hart lives for the grind of training, the adrenaline of competition, and all the perks of the road—until his ex hands him a baby and tells Logan to raise her on his own. He’s eager to pass this bundle of joy into more capable hands and get back to his hard-playing, hard-partying ways. But when a beautiful, blond drill sergeant of a nanny turns Logan’s life upside down, he sets a new goal: winning her h ...more

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Sep 03, 2016 MsChris1161 rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, ebook, reviewed, netgalley

Fantastic book! Katie Rose has written a great start to her new series with HARD TO HOLD. I loved this one and am eagerly looking forward to more of her Hard to Play series! Logan Hart, a professional soccer player for the New Jersey Hurricanes shines as the typical professional athlete enjoying the good life. He's not a total player, but has no thoughts of settling down. And then an one night stand from his past shows up with baby Cinnamon declaring him not only the father, but the immediate cu Fantastic book! Katie Rose has written a great start to her new series with HARD TO HOLD. I loved this one and am eagerly looking forward to more of her Hard to Play series! Logan Hart, a professional soccer player for the New Jersey Hurricanes shines as the typical professional athlete enjoying the good life. He's not a total player, but has no thoughts of settling down. And then an one night stand from his past shows up with baby Cinnamon declaring him not only the father, but the immediate custodial parent. In an instant his life is completely changed. Deep down he's a good guy that steps right up to care for this innocent baby even when he doesn't believe she's really his. Of course he needs help since he's on the road all the time, so he hires a nanny. Isabella is the vanguard of professional, certified Nanny's and she's also stunningly beautiful. She turns up her nose a bit at first to Logan, not expecting much from the gorgeous professional athlete, but then his sincere concern for the well-being of his infant daughter begins to win her over.

This story touched a lot of emotions. I mean, I couldn't help but be a bit riled over just the thought of how any mother could so callously abandon her child. Or happy to see the Love and respect develop between Logan and Isabella... and for baby Cinnamon. Or amused when Logan was trying to handle the baby on his own. And then there were the steamy scenes, because when your irresistibly attracted to someone you're in such close quarters with its next to impossible to not give in to the temptation. And the scenes that were so sweet I had tears running down my cheeks. But what impressed me most was Logan. Ms. Rose does a spectacular job of portraying his transition from "She's not my daughter. I don't have time for this."... that guy... to "She's mine. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her." Essentially his daughter steals his heart and he does an about face. Combined with the lovely romance this is a great read! 4.5 stars

~Complimentary copy downloaded from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Sep 13, 2016 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-books, review-book, new-book-release, on-my-kindle, adult-romance, contemporary-romance, sports, on-my-tbr, series-companion, romance

There is just something about seeing a big, strong man holding a baby that makes a woman’s heart melt. And I got to tell you, Logan Hart made my heart melt. I totally fell in love with this man. Logan—a professional Major League soccer player—lives the fast life…and a very single life. But he just got slapped with realty when a woman he had a one-night-stand with a year ago comes walking into the bar where he and his teammates are enjoying a drink. She sets a baby carrier down in front of him wi ...more

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Sep 18, 2016 Gigi staub rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-netgalley

New Jersey Hurricanes striker Logan Hart lives for the grind of training, the adrenaline of competition, and all the perks of the road—until his ex hands him a baby and tells Logan to raise her on his own. He’s eager to pass this bundle of joy into more capable hands and get back to his hard-playing, hard-partying ways. But when a beautiful, blond drill sergeant of a nanny turns Logan’s life upside down, he sets a new goal: winning her heart.

Isabella Bennett takes pride in teaching the rich and ...more

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May 12, 2016 Megan✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

****ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review****

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Jun 14, 2016 Nadine Bookaholic rated it liked it

Shelves: body-scars-disfigurement, genre-romance-contemporary, trope-office-romance, arcs-read2review-completed, genre-romance-erotic-erotica, not-available-for-loaning, content-holiday, content-illness-or-addiction, z-goodreads-year-in-review-2016

Logan Hart is on the road quite a bit with his Professional Soccer team so when he back home he likes to kick back and have a few beers with his friends & teammates, and that is exactly what he is doing when his former hookup comes into the bar and plops a baby carrier down on the table and tells Logan that Cinnamon is his daughter and now he has to raise her. First off I was appalled that someone would do such a thing, but who am I kidding crap like that happens all the time. Poor Logan has no ...more

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May 18, 2016 Kristine rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, 4-star-rating

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I read the enitre Boys of Summer series about the New Jersey Sonics so when I heard that Katie Rose had a new series about a soccer team I had to have it. Hard to Hold is the first instalment in the new Hard to Play series.

Katie Rose is great at what she does. She writes romance that is surrounded by sports in a Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I read the enitre Boys of Summer series about the New Jersey Sonics so when I heard that Katie Rose had a new series about a soccer team I had to have it. Hard to Hold is the first instalment in the new Hard to Play series.

Katie Rose is great at what she does. She writes romance that is surrounded by sports in a way that keeps me interested and wanting more. I am not really a sports fan and I'm not crazy about baseball or soccer. However, I loved her Boys of Summer series and Hard to Hold has given me a new appreciation for the sport of soccer. Now if she could just come out with a series about rugby (a sport I do adore) she would solidify a spot as one of my all time favourite romance authors! Hey...it was worth a try...no pun intended.

In Hard to Hold we are introduced to Logan Hart, a member of the New Jersey Hurricanes soccer team. While enjoying a few drinks with one of his team mates a woman he had a one night stand with shows up with a baby, tells him she is his and leaves her with him before disappearing. While trying to get things straightened out he hires Isabella as a nanny for baby Cinnamon.

I really liked Logan a lot. Although he was in denial about being Cinnamon's father he still stepped up and had her best interest at heart. There was a sensitivity to him that I found quit endearing. Isabella was also easy to like with her sweet but no nonsense personality and her love of children. Together they had ample chemistry and I thoroughly enjoyed their journey towards each other.

This book was easy to get lost in and finish in a few short hours. It flowed nicely and kept my interest from beginning to end. Although it may have seemed a little unrealistic (the whole baby drop at a bar) it worked. I can't wait to read the next instalment and see which of the New Jersey Hurricanes it is about.
...more

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Jul 15, 2016 Stephanie rated it really liked it

Logan Hart is a professional Soccer player who knows how to work hard and go after what he wants. Whether in the form of goals or women. But when a one night stand from before he went overseas shows up at the bar he's at and leaves him with a 3 month year old he had no clue what he was doing. Logan is a great man and although he was a little loose with women he always took control of his respobsibilities. And he always knew that if he was to get into some trouble his family would be there to hel ...more

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Aug 09, 2016 Melissa rated it really liked it

This was a very enjoyable read for me. It was sweet, light and sexy.
I loved both of the main characters. Logan is a great male lead. He is sexy, confident and a little arrogant. His whole life is changed in a matter of minutes. A former ONS shows up and drops off a baby claiming it is his and she no longer wants the responsibility. Logan was understandably confused, mad and in total denial.
Isabella is hired by Logan to care for the little girl, he believes she will come in and he can get back ...more

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May 19, 2016 Jenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cute-read, perfect-ending, insecurities-galore, secrets, emotional-rollercoaster, manwhore-turned-prince-charming, arc, happily-ever-after, dual-pov, dirty-talk

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

Hero(s) rating: 3.75 stars
Heroine rating: 3.75 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 3 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 3 stars
Other woman/men drama: No
Storytelling rating: 3.5 stars
Story ending rating: 3.75 stars
Cliffhanger: (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]
HEA: (view spoiler)[Yes (hide spoiler)]
**********************************************
Overall rating: 3.5 stars

O ...more

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May 09, 2016 Heather andrews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Logan could be a real passionate man at times, “you aren’t calling anybody,” he growled, pulling her into his arms. “You’re the best damned thing that ever happened to Cinnamon. And me. I’m lucky to have you on my team, and I’d be a fool not to know it. And I’m no effing fool.” I really liked this book, Logan was sweet, sexy and hot.

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Apr 12, 2017 Amber .:★Wild Heart Reviews★:. rated it really liked it

Hard to Hold is one of the many novels I've read by Katie Rose. It is a start for a new series and also a crossover from her Boys of Summer series. It is a stand alone, has an HEA, and is told from dual POVs between the main characters.

What would you do if your one night stand randomly walked into a place you were eating and plopped a baby carrier on the table amidst the food, then proceeds to walk out as if it's nothing? Me? I'm not so sure. I think I boggled right along with our hero, Logan, o Hard to Hold is one of the many novels I've read by Katie Rose. It is a start for a new series and also a crossover from her Boys of Summer series. It is a stand alone, has an HEA, and is told from dual POVs between the main characters.

What would you do if your one night stand randomly walked into a place you were eating and plopped a baby carrier on the table amidst the food, then proceeds to walk out as if it's nothing? Me? I'm not so sure. I think I boggled right along with our hero, Logan, on that one. That entrance, however, caught my attention with the book. This man needs help, and he needs help fast.

This is where Isabella steps in. Nanny extraordinaire but also one who won't take crap from Logan and won't be steamed rolled. I liked that she was extremely maternal. I liked that she laid it out for Logan that he was the parent, not her and she expected him to be present in the child's life.

I liked these characters. I liked the plot. Honestly, it's pretty straight forward. There really isn't any angst, and you just have two people trying to figure things out when there is a lot of chemistry between them. The best way I can describe it is sweet. Logan basically melts my heart with that baby, too.

That leads me to why I rated the book a 4 instead of a 5. While reading the book, you know there is this overwhelming attraction between Logan and Isabella from the get-go. My problem was it seemed like most of the book Logan was gone, or just not present. He was always playing soccer, working out, or just out with friends. He has obligations, yes, but it seems like he is always gone.

I, sometimes, call that "foggy". When you know it but it's like your seeing it through a steamed shower glass. You know the connection is there, the attraction. It's just not clear, or you wonder how it can happen when it seems like one character isn't all in like you're reading they should be. Then it seemed like there was more of a connection. By the end, you definitely know it's there, though. It also could have just been me.

I'd still recommend Hard to Hold. It was a sweet, light story, that made for an easy read.

**ARC Provided by NetGalley via Publisher in exchange for an HONEST review.** ...more

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Jun 05, 2016 Didi rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, series, sports-athletes, new-to-me-author

3.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Another new-to-me author (I do that more and more this year) and I picked it up because - DUH - the lead character was a footballer, as in soccer not an NFL one. So. Footballer with baby girl met a fierce nanny. Of course I was intrigued! It turned out to be enjoyable, sweet and touching.

Initially, I was not too fond of Logan the supposedly gorgeous hunk of a footballer daddy here. Everything about him seemed to be contrary; such as described 3.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Another new-to-me author (I do that more and more this year) and I picked it up because - DUH - the lead character was a footballer, as in soccer not an NFL one. So. Footballer with baby girl met a fierce nanny. Of course I was intrigued! It turned out to be enjoyable, sweet and touching.

Initially, I was not too fond of Logan the supposedly gorgeous hunk of a footballer daddy here. Everything about him seemed to be contrary; such as described as this yet doing the opposite instead. Plus, I didn't really get the significance of the story over his teenage UK-stay with his supposedly change of characters up to present time. Perhaps, this could be more interesting were said past put an annoying appearance somewhere in the present chapters. But no, he felt slighted and resent his father over it, yet later on there was no ...resolve or some kind of closure over it. Just Logan thought back of them a couple of times.

But - and I did put emphasis on that BUT - I gradually warmed up to him, especially related to the way he conduct himself with baby Cinnamon and her nanny. This jock was not a bad boy at all.

Of Isabella the nanny, I'll just put my impression of her by quoting what she said when she first stepped into Logan life:
"...we need to get something straight. I am a nanny. I am not the babby's mother or father. You are."

"...You won't be alone. I'll help you. But if you think you can just outsource raising your baby, that doesn't work for me. Are we clear?"
Well, hello? Who wouldn't love a heroine who could put someone in his place like that?? The lady was no pushover. I love a strong female character! Imagine the clash of two strong personalities, undercurrent attractions, with a dash of cuteness from the baby; you'd get the gist of the tone of the story.

As I mentioned earlier I'm new to Katie Rose's works. But it's safe to say that I like her writing. There's no over the top drama here, and what I liked best from her characters was that they owned up to their mistakes (instead of making excuses or blaming others) then didn't waste time to try to fix it. That, and - despite the mutual attractions - the MCs did not jump each other bones straight away. There were steamy scenes, sure. But at least there was phase, development, before they finally do the tango and beyond. There were other aspects here which were overlooked and predictable, but I tried to be less nit-picky for a chance.

Hard to Hold is the first of a new series which revolved around the boys of New Jersey Hurricanes in MLS. I look forward to more on the next installment of Logan's teammates. In the mean time, I'd make do catching up with her books of Baseball players on The Boys of Summer series. ;-)

Advanced copy of the book is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Jun 06, 2016 Barb ~rede-2-read~ rated it liked it

Shelves: for-review, m-f, read-2016

ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
*****

When Logan Hart has a surprise visit from Desiree, a long ago one-night stand, he’s shocked when she introduces him to Cinnamon, a baby she claims is his daughter. And then he’s stunned when she turns and walks out of their lives, leaving him with temporary custody and the paperwork for a paternity suit.

Not what he wanted—that’s for sure, but the star of a professional hockey team is nothing if not resour ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
*****

When Logan Hart has a surprise visit from Desiree, a long ago one-night stand, he’s shocked when she introduces him to Cinnamon, a baby she claims is his daughter. And then he’s stunned when she turns and walks out of their lives, leaving him with temporary custody and the paperwork for a paternity suit.

Not what he wanted—that’s for sure, but the star of a professional hockey team is nothing if not resourceful, and he takes the first necessary steps toward stability by hiring a professional nanny as soon as he can. In the meantime, for the first few days, his sister is there to help him get up and running.

Denial is a beautiful place, but Logan can’t stay there long, so he hires a private detective to help him track down Desiree. He needs to get some resolution to the custody situation because his new nanny is forcing him into situations where he has to bond with the baby, and it’s starting to work.

And speaking of the nanny, Isabella Bennett is gorgeous, sweet, and kind, and before he knows it, the sexy blonde has him panting for her attention. She’s good at holding off a man, especially one who is her employer, but the more she gets to know the gorgeous alpha male who is her boss, the more there is to like. Logan is not only good-looking, he’s generous and kind, and she can see that he’s falling head over heels in love with the baby. What’s not to like?

Of course, there are deep secrets in her past—secrets that throw a wrench into their relationship. And there’s the paternity issue—is he really Cinnamon’s father? This was a nice story, not overly dramatic, but with a little necessary tension surrounding the paternity issue and disappearance of the baby’s mother. There was some sexual tension between Logan and Isabella, but I didn’t feel the romance. It seemed like he got her in bed pretty quickly, and though they went on a date the next night, all of their interactions seemed to revolve around the baby, and I didn’t feel them building a solid relationship.

The secondary characters were great, especially Logan’s sister and parents and Isabella’s boss and best friend. I thought the reasoning behind Isabella’s upset and the “big dark secret” was ridiculous, and her actions in dealing with the issue quite unfathomable. In fact, if there were a way to wave a magic wand to bring Logan to life, I’d do it and bring him to my house. I really liked that man. From my perspective, Isabella didn’t deserve him, and I wouldn’t mind leaving her stuck in a cabin in the woods.

I found quite a few of the baby’s actions and activities highly age inappropriate, but since this is an ARC, some of the things that hit my buttons may be deleted before the final release, so I won’t mention them, and I didn’t let it affect my review, other than noting in passing that sometimes it’s the little things that make this reader lose focus on the bigger picture, and I appreciate an author who pays attention to the details.

If you’re a fan of romance between a sexy blonde woman and a sexy alpha-type athlete who comes with a premade family, this one should be on your wish list.
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Jun 01, 2016 Sassafrass rated it really liked it

Shelves: z-2016, z-challenge-books-2016, sports-romance, arc, wobble-16

I really have been on a sports romance kick, mostly hockey for some reason. Even though I don't watch a lot of sports in real life (except for my Phillies!), I've been enamored by the hot alpha athletes who fall hard for their women (or men as the case may be). So, when I got the opportunity to review HARD TO HOLD, I jumped at the chance.

HARD TO HOLD is the story of Logan Hart. He's a professional soccer player who is looking forward to the upcoming season, getting some action, and enjoying life I really have been on a sports romance kick, mostly hockey for some reason. Even though I don't watch a lot of sports in real life (except for my Phillies!), I've been enamored by the hot alpha athletes who fall hard for their women (or men as the case may be). So, when I got the opportunity to review HARD TO HOLD, I jumped at the chance.

HARD TO HOLD is the story of Logan Hart. He's a professional soccer player who is looking forward to the upcoming season, getting some action, and enjoying life. But things get derailed when a one-night stand shows up at a bar he's hanging out at and drops off a little red-haired baby at his table stating that the baby is his; and then unbelievably she walks away. Logan has no idea what to do, so he hires a nanny service and the woman they send is the answer to his prayers in more ways than one.

Isabella Bennet loves her job as a nanny but she likes to whip the parents into shape as much as the children. She doesn't have time for a single dad who wants to take the hands off approach. But, for some reason she can't deny the attraction between them. When things get serious, Isabella runs scared. She's got secrets of her own, and she's not sure if she's strong enough to go after what she really wants only to lose it all.

I thought HARD TO HOLD was really cute. I've read sports romance before, and I've read the sexy single dad trope before, but I liked the way the author put this together. Logan and Isabella had some serious chemistry. Logan's character was the draw for me though. I loved how he went from completely clueless to #1 dad over the course of the story. Cinnamon, the cute little baby totally transformed him.

My only complaint about this story was the way that Isabella handled herself. I didn't like that she decided everyone's future without explaining herself. It was selfish and just seemed completely out of character for her compared to the rest of the story. It seemed as though it got sorted out soon enough but I just couldn't believe that the no-nonsense nanny handled herself that way.

HARD TO HOLD is the first book in Hard to Play series, and I don't have a clue who the next book will feature but I will be looking out for it because I want to continue the series. It also seems that HARD TO HOLD has a connection to the author's Boys of Summer series, and the heroine in book #3 (The Heat of the Moment), Jessica Hart is Logan Hart's sister.

Overall, I thought HARD TO HOLD was a fun read. Perfect for summer, it had a sweet story and just enough sizzle to heat you up. I've never read a novel by Katie Rose before, but I think I will definitely check out her Boys of Summer series while I'm waiting for the next Hard to Play novel to come out.

*ARC provided by NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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Jul 16, 2016 Julie rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, arc, netgalley, book-in-exchange-for-review

When I first got this book from NetGalley, I guess I glossed over the fact that it was about a soccer player. I started playing softball when I was 5 years old and I loved it so much, that I thought I would branch out to other sports when I was around 10. Let's just say that I didn't last a whole season. I was taught to never quit and usually my parents would make me ride out any commitments that I had made but I think they hated it as much as I did, so they let me quit. Quite plainly, it sucked
description

When I first got this book from NetGalley, I guess I glossed over the fact that it was about a soccer player. I started playing softball when I was 5 years old and I loved it so much, that I thought I would branch out to other sports when I was around 10. Let's just say that I didn't last a whole season. I was taught to never quit and usually my parents would make me ride out any commitments that I had made but I think they hated it as much as I did, so they let me quit. Quite plainly, it sucked ass. I thought it was boring beyond belief. So back to softball it was for me. Anyway, unfortunately, soccer hasn't gotten any more interesting for me since then. I practically raced over the parts that were about soccer because my eyes started glossing over. Not a good sign.

The characters were okay ... I didn't really feel any connection to them. Actually, the emotion that I felt the most was irritation at the name Cinnamon ... people were just walking around, acting like this was a perfectly normal name. Yeah. It's not. I think that I would have liked Paprika as a name better than Cinnamon. Every time I read that name, I just became irrationally irritated for some reason. Anyway ... I liked Logan and Isabella but they weren't memorable to me. I couldn't tell you what either of them looked like if my life depended on it. Again, not good. Their relationship was interesting ... the dynamic between Logan and Isabella was a nice push and pull but again, it just wasn't memorable. The characters needed just a little more umph, you know? Not that I know how to fix them but something was definitely missing.

The plot of the book was just ... okay. It moved along at a sluggish pace for me. There were times when nothing was really going on but it felt like chapters were dedicated to that nothingness. It wasn't really chapters ... just pages ... but it felt really long. It just dragged the book out. And I don't want to talk about the soccer stuff again. It just did nothing for me. Except distract me from the name Cinnamon. That was one good thing that soccer has done for me. I gave it three stars, so something must have been good about it, right? Well, yes. There were parts that were entertaining for me but they were just so few and far between and coupled with the character issues I had, I couldn't rate it higher than a three.

This just wasn't the book for me. Next time, I'll pay closer attention to the dude's job before I pick up a book. Not the book for me, so I'll pass on the rest of this series.

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Check out more of my reviews at Little Miss Bookmark! ...more

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